Related Stories

Sean Avery of the New York Rangers was arrested early Friday morning after an incident at his home in Los Angeles, the website TMZ.com is reporting.

According to the report, police were responding to a noise complaint at Avery's Hollywood Hills address when the player shoved an officer and slammed the door on the police.

Avery reportedly co-operated after the initial brushoff and was subsequently booked for battery on a peace officer. He was released roughly seven hours later after posting $20,000 US bail.

The noise was coming from a party being held at the home, according to the report.

Avery, 31, has become one of the most polarizing players in NHL history in recent years.

He participated in a league-mandated counselling program during the 2008-09 season and was cut loose by the Dallas Stars after insulting former girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert and Dion Phaneuf, who was dating Cuthbert.

Avery has also raised the ire of opposing players such as Tim Thomas, Martin Brodeur, Darcy Tucker and Georges Laraque for actual and alleged incidents on the ice.

Off the ice, the Pickering, Ont., native has publicly criticized stereotypical hockey players and has done his best to eschew that label.

He spent a summer interning at Vogue, opened a bar in Manhattan, and most recently, appeared in a video supporting same sex marriage in New York state.

Avery scored just three goals in 76 games last season, with 24 assists. The 31-year-old is heading into the final year of a contract — the one given to him by the Stars — that will pay him $4 million US for the upcoming season.